Who Will be Iran New Supreme Leader After Khamenei Death?

By Aditya Nagar | March 03, 2026

The killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by the joint military attack by the United States and Israel has left a major leadership vacuum in Iran.

To fill the gap, the procedure of choosing Iran’s new supreme leader has begun.

The change in Iran’s leadership had happened only once, in 1989, when, after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei took charge as the next supreme leader.

Now this time, no successor has been officially appointed to take over after the recent death of Khamenei, which triggered a grave war situation between Iran, Israel, and America.

Iran's New Leader Killed

The recent death of Ayatollah Arafi, the new supreme leader of Iran, confirmed by General Mike Flynn, a retired U.S. Army officer and intelligence specialist, has once again raised a question mark on who will be the next supreme ruler of Iran.

According to his post on X, Arafi was newly appointed after the death of Khamenei in a previous joint military operation of the United States and Israel.

According to reports, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi was a senior cleric and received broader support from Iran’s Assembly of Experts, which proposed his name as the next interim Supreme Leader of Iran.

However, no formal confirmation has been done yet.

However, his death marked his shortest tenure in modern history. He was killed within hours of his appointment in a subsequent strike in Tehran.

Selection for New Supreme Leader of Iran After Khamenei’s Death

When it comes to choosing a new Iranian Supreme Leader, there is an Assembly of Experts, an 88-member group of senior Shiite clerics, who are constitutionally responsible for making the decision.

The process is followed by debate and voting on candidates. Whosoever receives the most votes becomes the new leader.

This same process Iran applied only once in 1979.

Other Potential Candidates Besides Ayotallah Arafi

Besides Ayotallah Arafi, who was recently killed shortly before taking the role of Iran’s interim Supreme Leader, the other names of potential candidates are

Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i – judiciary chief and interim council member
Mojtaba Khamenei – Khamenei’s son (controversial because of fears of hereditary rule)
Hassan Khomeini – grandson of Iran’s revolution founder, respected by some clerics.

Brief About Ayotallah Arafi

Ayotallah Alireza Arafi was a religious leader and a senior Shia cleric from Iran.
He has served a key role in religious and political domains in Iran.
One such position he held was membership in the Guardian Council, which is tasked with reviewing laws and elections.
Arafi was known for his strong stance within Iran’s religious institutions and for his close ties to the country’s top leadership.
Recently, his name came up in discussions about Iran’s leadership change.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about this topic

Under Iran’s constitution, the Assembly of Experts — a group of 88 senior clerics — is responsible for choosing the next Supreme Leader. Until they formally pick someone, a temporary leadership council made up of the president, the chief justice, and a senior cleric is handling the duties of the Supreme Leader.

Potential candidates include senior clerics and influential figures within Iran’s religious establishment. Names discussed by analysts include members of the interim council and other prominent clerics, but no permanent successor has been officially chosen yet. The Assembly of Experts will make that decision soon.

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